Support



Feb. 2, 1937.

F. J. G. NEUMANN ET AL SUPPORT Filed Dec. 3, 1934 INVENTORS N ZWE M m .wd S R W% Y o w W n m 4 A i 5W3 5 v m 2 WW I,

rm Y

a 6 w/ M?? J Patented Feb. 2, 1937 STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTApplication December 3, 1934, Serial No. 755,739

18 Claims.

This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for makinggeophysical measurements. The invention more particularly relates tomethods of and apparatus for making such measurements upon the areas ofthe earths surface which are covered by water.

The methods of making geophysical measurements on land where the portionof the earths surface upon which the geophysical instrument being usedis readily accessible, are well known and understood. Such measurementshave been made based on differences in the density or of the mass of thedifierent materials, rocks, strata or other deposits in the earthsstructure. Also measurements have been based on electric conductivity,magnetic qualities, radio emanations and also upon the difference in thecapacity of different earth structures to propagate shock.

The torsion balance is an instrument in coms mon use for determinationsbase on differences in mass. 'The seismograph is used to determine therate of transmission of shock by materials of different character in theearth. For this purpose vibrations artificially produced are used. Inmost cases the instruments used in making these measurements must bepositioned in fixed relation to the earths structure or at least firmlyor stably positioned with respect thereto. Particularly with instrumentsof the type of the torsion balance and the seismograph in which theparts are delicately mounted, it is necessary that the instrument be sofirmly or stably supported and held with respect to the earths surfacethat accidental movement thereof shall be prevented. It also isnecessary that the instrument be protected from the influence of outsideforces causing jar or vibration which would produce error in the readingor prevent accurate observations being made. In the use of suchinstruments on land it has been possible to take such precautionswithout difliculty.

The use of geophysical instruments and the making of geophysicalmeasurements upon areas of the earths surface covered by waterheretofore have been attended with such difiiculty as to have preventedextensive making of measurements of this kind in such areas. We areaware that heretofore it has been proposed to mount a geophysicalinstrument on a pile driven into a penetrable bottom underlying a bodyof water. It has been found, however, that geophysical instrumentsmounted on piles are subjected to serious errors due to forces actingupon the instrument which are the result of the motion of the watercaused by currents or by the wind as well as to the wind itself. A pileor a group of piles upon which a geophysical instrument may be supportedis subject to the wave action which may produce forces of such amount asto cause movement or vibration or jar of the instrument which willentirely prevent readings of suflicient accuracy to be of scientific orcommercial value. Moreover, when such supports or piles are positionedin currents of water, forces of like character may act upon the pilesand may be transmitted to the instrument with equally deleteriouseffect. The eifect of wind frequently is more severe when it blowsacross open water and the errors of observation and recording of 1cinstrument may be produced in greater degree from this cause than isusual upon land; also it is more difficult to protect the instrumentfrom the force of the wind by suitable housing unless an expensivestructure and one not easily portable is erected upon the piles.Furthermore, a pile is unwieldy and heavy and difficult both to fastenin the underlying bottom, and after obtaining the readings to removetherefrom and to transport to a new position.

The present invention is concerned with a method of and apparatus formaking geophysical measurements upon areas of the earths surfacescovered by water, which areas, therefore, are not readily accessible forpositioning the instrument with respect to the earth in the usualmanner.

It also is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for carryingout the method of making these observations and of such construction aswill prevent the entrance of substantial or undesirable error in theobservations or readings or recordings of the instruments.

It is a further object of our invention to provide apparatus forcarrying out these methods of making geophysical measurements which willbe readily portable upon or over the surface of the water and which,without difiiculty, may be positioned with respect to the earths surfaceat the point Where it is desired to make the measurements.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a readily demountablesupport for the geophysical instrument which may be readily assembledand may be fixedly and firmly positioned with respect to the earth.

The. invention comprises means which may be utilized with a float orfloating vessel or witha transportable platform upon which the observeror operator may work in setting the support and in mounting theinstrument thereon, as well as in making the observations. Thisplatform, however, as disclosed in our copending application,

7 Serial No. "713,852, filed March13, 1934, of which the presentapplication is a continuation in part, may be so. constructed astorshield the support for the geophysical instrument from the action ofthe 7 water and fromrthe action of the waves or of the wind causingthewaves, and so. as to prevent the forcesof' the'wind. and of the currentor wave ,7

acticn'from reaching :the instrument itself. As described in saidpriorapplication, we may form in such a float or platform an openingproviding a space extending downwardly toward the bottom underlying thebody of Water, through which space may be passed the support forthegeophysical instrument which is the subject of the present inventionso that said support may be positioned with its lower ,end fixed in theearth bot- 'tom' and with its upper end extending above the water levelformed within the space or opening.

The support of the invention is so constructed that upon it thegeophysical-instrument may be easily mountedby the observer or workman;

The invention, therefore, contemplates a support for contacting with orfor being firmly fixed in the earth bottom and of a form to position thegeophysical instrument 'mounted thereon at or abovethe water level ofthe body. of water coveringthe area of the earth's surface beingsurveyed, and particularly one suitable for use with the shield forpreventing or reducing the forces of the water and waves reaching thesupport and the; instrument, as disclosed in said prior applica-' tion,Serial No. 713,852.

7 QThe; invention further contemplates a'particu-- i lar construction ofthe support for the geop ysical instrument which may be readily insertedfixedly in p1ace with respect to the earth underlying the bodyof water,maybe readily demounted oricole lapsed and transported to .a newlocation,,'and maybe positioned and mounted from a platform or from afloat or other vessel without the necessity of apparatus suchas apiledriver. Moreover, the support of our invention is of such -con structionthat'the desired rigidity for support of the geophysical instrument andthe firm contact with theunderlying surface of the earth-is se-j cured.The construction of the support of our s invention is also such that aconsiderable amount of accidental shock-and jar or other disturbance duetoexternal forces may reach the support 7 without causing displacementor. disturbance suchas will introduce undesirable error.

thereof, or disturbance-of the instrument itself This constructioncom-prises struts of material which Y may be somewhat resilient butcapable of re-- 7 'sisting' substantial permanent deformation or bendinga'nd'a device having parts or members cooperating to act upon saidstruts or' surfaces thereof to produce deformation'or bending or' bowingthereof i-nt'o'strain'and shockresisting relation with each other andwith said de'vice and 'members to produce a rigid support as a whole.The apparatus and construction herein disclosed particularly are;adapted for .use. in making geophysical measurements on areas of theearths surface which are covered with water to a-depth such thatfrom thesurface of the water the bottorn may be reached by structuresor strutswhich are convenient to handleand which may have their lower ends forcedinto the earthso fas to L fix the strut withrespect to the earth whileexf tending up through the wate r to a'point adjacent may be supportedthereon. V

the'surface so that the geophysical instrument the support of ourinvention. M -which three are utilized in the particular ,em- 'bodimentillustrated, may be made of pipes. In

this particular embodiment these pipes maybe of about 2? nominal pipesize, having anioutside,

As'will b'eunderstood from further description of the devicefthe legs v'50'are driven intoior otherwise fixedly positioned While theinventionisnot limited to particular depths of water and while, especially whenused with a shield against wave action and against water currents aswell as against wind, as described in said application, Serial No.713,852, it may be utilized within practical limits regardless of thedepth of water, ingeneral we consider that our invention, in theparticular form herein disclosed, has particular application in depthsof water from about 2 to 20 feet. Bodies of water having a depth of '2feet or greater, and particularly when exposed in open extents to theforce of the wind, may developcconsi'de'rable wave action and thesupport mustcbe as rigid as possible and capable of being firmly fixedin the bottom.

7 Moreover, in order to secure readings over a sufficiently large areaof 'the'ear'th s surface the apparatus must be readily transpor table.We there- 1 fore havedevisedEa construction for a support which maybehandled from a vessel or from'a' float. Indepths of water, however,extending to say 12O or 30 feet it is still possible to reach the bottomwith struts for support of the instrument,

which struts may be driven into or otherwise fixed r in the bottombyworking from a vessel or from a floating platform, provided that thesestruts and supports are suitably constructed. 3 1

The invention provides a support which may be used in any depth ofwaterin which'it ispossible to reach the bottom with a member inthe formofa strut and comprises a frame or struc-' ture which may be assembledin placeor in some support, so as to reduce the possibility ofdisturbance of the instrument by exterior forces.

Moreover, the construction of, the support maybe I such that it mayeasily be assembled without-the useof particular apparatus and the strutmem- 'bers thereof may be fastened into the earth bot- 'tom with the useof hand tools only.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the drawing in which r r V Figure 2shows a plan view at lines 2'-2, of Figure 1;.

the support of Figure 1;

Figure shows a modified form of the leg of the support-of Figure l; and.

Figure 6' shows a modified form of a portion of the device.

Figure 3 shows a'detail of the construction of V V Figure 1 shows thevertical section of the sup- 7 port for a geophysical instrument;

Figure 4 shows a section on line 4-4 of Fig 7 x'ure l;

In Figure 1 is shown' a vertical section through The legs 50, of

diameter of about 2%.".

in the earthfbottom' 2 underlying the bodyjof water and are inclined toeach other and'converge upwardly towardeach other. Asmay be seen fromFigures 2 and 4 they are spaced apart, symmetrically in the particulararrangement illustrated, around a common axis.

In a vertical position generally coincident with said axis is provided ashaft or elongated hub 52 from which project two sets of arms, said setsbeing spaced apart along said shaft or hub, and in each set an armextends generally laterally from the axis toward each of the threepipes, said arms being spaced about the hub 52 to form a rigid spidermember in each set. Adjacent the lower end of the shaft 52 the arms 54project in an upwardly inclined direction to connect said shaft withthree collars 55 provided with funnellike portions 57. These collarshave holes therethrough somewhat larger than the outside diameter of thepipes 59. The arms 55 of this lower or first rigid spider member holdthese collars 55 in such position that the axis of the holestherethrough has the same general inclination in which it is intendedthat the pipes of the tripod shall become positioned when fixed in theearth bottom and held in proper position to support the base of thegeophysical instrument 32.

The upper set of arms 58 are similarly rigidly connected to the shaft orelongated hub 52 to form an upper or second rigid spider member andextend in a slightly upwardly inclined direction to jaws or clevispieces 59. These clevis pieces 59, which may be open at the outsideportions thereof as shown in Figure 1, form guides through which thepipes may be slid when inserting them in position, as will be hereafterdescribed. The arms 55 and 58 and the shaft or hub 52 form a rigid frameor rigid member 55 which, it will be clear from a consideration of thedrawing and the above description, may be held by the three pipesextending through the collars 56, the outermost portion of the innersurface of the hole of the collar bearing against the outermost surfacesof the respective pipes 55, the clevises 69 sliding along the pipesuntil further movement is arrested by the collars 55 resting against thepipes. On the other hand, the frame may be lifted in a direction of theaxis of the shaft 52 until the collars are substantially clear of thepipes 50. If held in such position by some means, as hereafterdescribed, the pipes 59 may be slid lengthwise thereof through the openspace of the clevises 69 and through the openings in the collars 56.

In. Figure 1 at H! is shown a hub having connected thereto, to form asecond rigid member or frame or third spider ll, arms l2 extendingoutwardly from the hub l9 thereof to engage the pipes 50. In theembodiment of our invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 these arms 12are formed adjacent their outer ends with portions 14 extending part wayaround the pipes 59. Also rigidly fastened to the arms '52 by suitablefastening means '15 are hinge bearings '58 having hinge pieces 89pivoted therein upon hinge pins 82. The hinge pieces 89 may, therefore,be swung away from the pipes 50, or, again, may be swung against thepipes 59 into a generally parallel position to the portion of the armsl2. The hinge pieces have pivoted adjacent their outer ends swing bolts95 upon which may be screwed wing nuts 35. In the portion M of the arms12 which contact the pipes-59, a slot 88 is provided in which the swingbolt 39 may be slipped when the hinge piece is to be clamped around thepipes 59 and the wing nuts 85 may then be screwed up to bind the pipes59 between the portions 14 of the arms 12 and said hinge pieces 80.

The hub 10 is provided with a flange 95 fastened by means of bolts orother fasteners 92 to the hub 19. The hub 10 is so formed as to providea recess behind the flange 99 when the flange is fastened thereto, theflange 90 having a hole therethrough through which may pass the shank 94of a jackscrew 96. Fastened by means of a pin 99 to the shank 94 of thejackscrew 96 is a collar 98 fitting within the recess of the hub 10. Theshank 94 and the collar 99 fastened thereon are free to turn in thisrecess with the turning motion of the jackscrew 96 upon its axis. Thusit will be seen that the jackscrew is held in operable relation with theframe or spider 1| provided by the hub 10 and the arms '52 so as toreceive the thrust of the jackscrew in an upward direction while holdingthe jackscrew from dropping out of engagement with the spider. In theshaft or hub 52 is out a thread lilll fitting to the thread of thejackscrew 96. tened upon the shank 9d of the jackscrew or forming anintegral part thereof is a collar I02 having holes I03 therein toreceive a wrench bar for the purpose of turning the jackscrew on itsaxis.

It will be clear from a consideration of Figure 1 that when thejackscrew is screwed out of the thread I90 in the shaft 52 the collar orflange 98 will be moved upwardly against the inner wall of the recess inthe hub l9 and the hub ill will be moved away from the frame 55 formedby the arms 54 and 58 connected to the shaft 52. On the other hand, ifthe spider H is held in a fixed position the frame 55 will be moved fromthe spider H when the jackscrew 96 is screwed out of the thread 190.Reverse movements of the parts will be secured by opposite turningmotion applied to the jackscrew 96.

If the spider H is clamped upon the legs 59 by the hinge pieces 89 heldby the clamping force of the wing nuts 86 and swing bolts 85, then uponturning the jackscrew 96 out of the thread I90 the arms 54 of the firstspider will be forced downward in a direction axially of the shaft 52.The inner surface of the outer portion of the collars 55 will move intocontact with the outer portions of the respective pipes and furtherturning motion of the jackscrew 96 will cause these collars to bear hardupon these pipes. Because of the inclination of the pipes and of theinner surfaces of the collars and because the motion applied to thecollars is in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft 52, ajamming or wedging action of the collars upon the pipes 59 will occur.

As the spider formed by collars 56, the arms 54 i,

and the shaft or hub 52 are parts of the rigid frame 55, further motionof the frame 55 is stopped upon wedging of the collars upon the pipes50. The pipes are rigidly gripped by the spider and are held in. fixedand rigid connection 2 with each other at the portion of the lengththereof contacted by the collars 55. As the upper ends of the pipe 50are rigidly held in the third spider H and as the shaft 52 and thejackscrew 99 form a stiff connection between the spider H and the frame55 including the arms 54 and the collars 56, the whole support thusbecomes a rigid unit. When the lower ends of the pipes 59 are suitablyfixed in the earth bottom underlying the water, a firm and rigid supportis thus provided for the geophysical instrument mounted upon the upperends of the structure and one Also faswhich will withstand the forcescaused by motion of the water either due to currents or wave action andone which will withstand the shock earth bottom underlying therbody rwater; we

or steel, which is capable of being bent or bowed but, because of thecharacterof the material itself and of thejcross-sectional form thereof,offers 1 substantial resistance to' permanent deformation,-

the pipes in" their deformed --position and shape become stiffenedthroughout their length or a substantial portion thereof and combinetheir respective rigidities with that of the frame 55 to producea rigidsupport ortripod capable of resisting motion thereof under impact orshock. The invention, therefore, comprises a set of struts of suchmaterial and of such form as to be ca- 'pable of [beingresiliently'deformedinto shapes which become substantially rigid andwhich coformed rigid shape. j The construction is, such operate withrigid means to maintain said' dethat particularly when the ends of thepipes are driven into or firmly fixed in; the earth; the reformation orbend of the pipes produce a structllre capable of great rigidity andfirmness.

In order fixedly to position the pipes in the may drive the pipes intopenetrable material in order that theartificially generated earth shock'may'be properly transmitted to the instrument through the structure.In'some casesiin order said bottom to'a depth sufiicient to secure arigid and firm support for these pipes.

It is important in using some geophysical instrumentssuch as theseismograph; tozinsure that an intimate and firm contact with' the earthis secured in Qto secure the desired firmnessand contact with theeartlnwe have found thatit 'is desirable to drive or otherwise 'ferce"the legs or'struts, es-.

pecially when using pipes such as those described above, into the solidearth bottom underlying the water to a-depth of '3 to 4 feet. We have sodevised our support that we may'drive these pipes to any desireddepthand may formthe pipes "or legs ,50 in sections oas indicated in'Figure1, of

such length as maybe convenient-1y handled and, s

by coupling'sections'together, to providesufiicient length: reachinginto the firm earth bottom unf derlying the water.

' In this connection it Shanda'expai ed ha in many loca'lities a firmpenetrable earth bottom underlying bodies of natural water is overlaid'With a layer of silt or semieliquid mud or ooze below'the water.andincapable of bearing weight, or of holding a structural member infixed position in relation to the earth bottom. Thus it is.necessar'y'in many cases not only to provide 'a 'strut which issufficiently light in weight to be handled from the floating platform orvessel but one which must be sufficiently long to reach a down throughthe'waterand through the layer of ooze and to penetrate into the. earth"bottom a distance sufficient to give rigid support to the strutorflleg; By utilizing pipes for the struts or legs or" our support wesecure thedesirable'light Weight and are able to make the legs in'convenient sections which may be easily coupled together." Moreover,pipes may readily be driven into a V "penetrableearth floor.

We have found, however, that'twe may simplify the work of fixing andfirmly positioning the struts or legs of the tripod or support ofOllIf'll'lvention by so, constructing the legs that instead of drivingthem directly into .the underlying earth floor they: may be insertedtherein by a ila'nge 90 of thehub'llll 7 porting the spider H, the swungupon the hinge pins 82'away from their turning motion. In order toaccomplish this result we may provide at that end of each leg, whichisto be inserted in the earth, a screw member I In which maybe fastened tothe end of the pipe and may project beyond the end thereof.

The screw member I in may be formed as a hell cal coil. As an example ofa convenient construction'which may be utilized with pipes such as the2" pipes referred to above, we have formed l the helical coil by Windingapiece of steel /2" in diameter upon an axis to form a helix having adiameter of about 2' with a pitch of the degree of to 1' from one turnof the helix to an adjacent turn] There is thusrformed a. member similarto a ccrkscrew'which, upon-tuming' the pipe- 50 upon its axis, will drawthe. pipe secured J thereto downwardly into the earth'as'the'screwmember H0 is screwed into the earth. I In order to effect this'turningmotion'we find it merely necessary to turn the pipes with a Stillsonwrench or with a wrench or other device of convenient typeapplied'to'the. upper end of the pipes; .The dimensions and proportionsgiven above for this construction are merely examples and may be variedto suit different conditions.

While,"as' stated above, we may assemble the,

parts illustrated in and described in connection with Figures 1 to 4inclusive prior to setting the support upon the bottom, which method ofutilizing the device of our invention may be most convenientin somecases, for the most part, in View 7 of the necessity of securing thepipes'50 at suf- V ficient depth in the penetrable earthibottom', and

in some :cases at different depths, we have found it preferable toassemble the support in the posi- 7 .tion in which it is to be used.Iniorder to secure.

the advantage afforded byjthe clevises'lifl and oollars- 56att'ached tothe frame to guidethe pipes into the proper positionsinjthe earth bot-;V tom, not only with respect to each other but with 40, e respect to theearth, we may temporarily support the spider 1|, for example, from'the'float or vessel, so that it may be held in approximate a workingposition. The arms 54 and 58 may thereby beheld in a given relation tothe .float,

the shaft 52 being suspended by the jackscreW 96 supported by the collar'98 bearing against the hinge pieces 80J,may be clamping position. Thepipes 50, then may be passed down throughthe respectiveclevis pieces andthrough the respective collars 56,:the fun-' nel-like portions 51serving to guide the pipes 50 into the collars 56 and the collars'56and. the

:clevis pieces 60 acting as guides to direct the. end

By so temporarily supof. the pipe 50 andthe screw member III) attachedthereto to the proper point at the'earth 'bottom'which is in line withthe collars 50, the

clevisesBB and'the clamping devices I l-and of the spider 1|.j-

,Ifthe helical screw member H0 is not used, 7 the pipes may be drivendirectlyinto the earth bottom by force applied to the upper end of theMoreover, as the pipe is driven down into pipes.

the earth additional sections may be added at the upper end of the pipe,it onlybeingnecessary that the coupling membersbe of such form as willpass down through the clevis pieces ber H0 is utilized, the pipe may beturned in'the collar 56 and in the clevis 60 and thereby screwed intothe earth bottom to the desired degree; further sections being 'adde'dtothe'pipe if necessary. Combinations of driving the pipe and V V and:thecollars 56;; When,'however, the screw'mem- 1 screwing it into theearth bottom may be used in certain cases depending upon the characterof the structure of the bottom into which the pipes are to be driven.

When the pipes have penetrated to sufficient depth to give a firm andrigid support to these pipes and to position the upper ends thereofadjacent the water level, and preferably above the water level, thespider II may be clamped to the upper ends of these pipes by swingingthe hinge members 80 into clamping position and fastening them by meansof the wing nuts 86. The temporary support for the spider 'ZI may thenbe removed, the weight of the frame 55 being thereafter suspended uponthe jackscrew 56. If, now, the jackscrew 95 is turned in a directionwhich will screw it out of the thread I56 in the shaft 52, as abovedescribed, the collars 55 will move downwardly in the direction of theshaft 52 and will bind upon the inclined pipes 58. The force thusapplied will tend to draw pipes 59 inwardly toward the axis of the shaft52, the upper ends of the pipes and the ends fixed in the earthrespectively being held in fixed relation to each other. It thus will beclear that by using the downward motion of the first spider arms 54 andcollars 56 it is not necessary to provide collars for the arms 58, as nobearing outwardly from the axis upon clevis pieces 50 occurs. Thus thepipes may be easily slipped into the clevis pieces.

Upon reverse movement of the screw 95 cansing movement of the frame 55toward the spider II, the clevises 60 will bear against the pipes 55 andmove the portions of the pipes which respectively are adjacent theretooutwardly from the axis of the shaft 52. As the upper ends of the pipesare fixed in the spider II this movement of the clevises 6B alone wouldcause the portions of the pipes 50 respectively passing through thecollars 55, being more removed from the fixed ends of the pipes than theclevises 60, to move outwardly from said axis to a greater extent thansaid portions of the pipes adjacent the clevises 65. As the collars 56,however, move upwardly the same distance that the clevises 60 are movedthe portions of the pipes 59 passing through the collars cannot moveoutwardly as far as they tend to move and the pipes thus become bowed orbent in an outwardly convex bow between the collars 56 and the rigidspider II. The clevises 60 thus resist approach of the struts or pipes55 and the collars 56 resist spreading of said struts. When the lowerends of the pipes are fixed in the earth in the manner shown the pipesalso become bowed or bent between their lower ends and the points ofcontact of said pipes with the frame 55.

If the clevises 60 are placed below the collars 56, or if collars aresubstituted for clevises 50 in the arrangement as shown in the drawing,the downward movement may be utilized to effect bowing or bending of thepipes in an outwardly concave bow. In the latter case clevises may besubstituted for the collars 56 in the position illus trated, if desired.The forces applied to the pipes through the arms 54 would then act toprevent approach of the pipes and the collars substituted for theclevises 55 would act to resist spreading of the pipes, that is, wouldcause approach of the pipes toward the axis of the shaft 52 and towardeach other at the parts thereof adjacent the arms 58 upon downwardmovement of the frame 55. In utilizing either construction and movementit will be understood that the rigidity provided by frame 55 with itscentral shaft or to resist approach of the pipes at similar places thelengths of the different pipes and to resist spreading of the pipes atother places similarly positioned on the different pipes. While in somecases the tripod construction of the invention may be desirable, usedwithout inserting the lower ends of the pipes in the earth or otherwisefixing them at their lower ends, for the purpose of geophysicalmeasurements, particularly in water covered areas, preferably the endsof the pipes are so fixed in or relative to the earth.

By suitably proportioning the arms 54 and 58 of the frame 55 in relationto the shaft or hub 52, the push and pull forces, as well as the bendingforces which are applied to the members of the frame 55 and the spidersthereof are withstood. In the particular embodimentof the invention withwhich pipes of the size of about 2" pipe size are utilized, the shaft orhub 52 may be of about 4" diameter and about 5 feet long. The arms 54,as shown, may be fastened adjacent the lower end of the shaft 52.Adjacent the center of the length of the shaft 52 the arms 58 arefastened. When the structure of the frame 55, for example, is built ofiron the arms 54 and 58 may be welded to the shaft 52 and may be formedof fiat iron bars of about 3" to 3 depth by /8 to 1" thickness. Thejackscrew may be of about 1 /2" diameter and cut with six threads perinch and of a form which is usual in jackscrew design. The arms '52 ofthe third spider II may be of material of similar size to the arms 58and may be welded to the hub IE! and to each other at the point ofjoining the hub to form a rigid spider.

A modified form of the legs 50 of our support is shown in Figure 5. Aswill be seen from this figure, within the pipe 50 is inserted a shaft orrod I25 having a bearing surface I22 at the upper end thereof and abearing surface I23 at the lower end thereof. In some cases, a shaft I20of uniform diameter from one end t0 the other thereof may be passedthrough the pipe. At the lower end of the shaft may be fastened thescrew member II E). The pipes 50, therefore, may be clamped rigidly tothe spider II and the shaft 520 may be turned, as with a wrench appliedto the head I24 at the upper end thereof, to screw the screw member I I0into the earth bottom thus to draw the shaft down through the pipe 50.It will be understood that the pipes 50 may be driven part way into theearth bottom or all or nearly all the Way, the screw member beingscrewed into the earth bottom to secure the additional hold afterdriving the pipes. On the other hand, the shaft I 25 may project beyondthe pipes 50 and these pipes may reach, for example, down to the earthbottom and provide a guide for the shaft extending beyond the ends ofthe pipes into the earth to the desired depth. In any case the shaft I22is so mechanically fitted to pipe 50 as to hold said pipe rigidly andfirmly in position when the lower end of the shaft is fixed to thebottom.

Modifications of the construction of the support of our invention may bemade within the scope of the invention. As suggested above, the

. design may be such as to provide for movement of .the frame 55 ineither direction with respect to the spider II which is clamped to thelegs, in

7 order .to effect the binding or jamming of the legs to transmitthereto the rigidity of the spiders.

Moreover, Within the scope of our invention, by

using suitable jackscrews between the parts, the fixed or clampingspider may be intermediate bea tween, two other binding or jammingframes or spiders. Conceivably also, in certain cases, the

second spider of the frame, such as that provided by the arms 58 and theclevis pieces 60, may

be eliminated and the jamming or binding of the pipes may be effected bymotion of a spider such as that provided by the arms 54 and the collarsB which is movable away from or toward the clamping spider II. In suchcase, however, the

1 pipes 50 should be of, such size with respect to the free lengththereof as to act with the jamming or wedging spider to produce a rigidsupport, as

in such case the forces transmitted to the pipes V by thearms 54 may actmerely against-the bending resistance of the pipes. While in the drawingand in the above description the invention has, been described in con-'formed therein, the instrument'may be positioned nection'with aninstrument positioned above the water level, the invention is notlimited to construotions in which the, pipes extend from the ends fixedin the bottom underlying the water to a point above the water level.'If, as in some cases is possible, the shield surrounding the,instrument, provided, for example, by the float disclosed inour-copending application, Serial No.

713,852, filed March 3,1934, is suitably constructedto prevent the waterrising in the opening below'the Water level and a shorter tripod used.Othermeans may be used in combination with the support of our inventionto make possible the setting of the instrument in any desired positionwithrespect to, the water level.- V

In the above description and inthe claims the term tripod has been used.By this term is'meant a support utilizing three struts or legs, but theterm-also" is intended to include any support which comprises aplurality of such struts or legs a cooperating toflform 'a. structure ofthe type in which said struts'hav'e their ends resting upon or fixed inor upon theground or similar base.

In Figure 6 is'shown a frame I30 as a modified formof the frame 55; 'Intheconstruction as in this-embodiment of the invention a pluralityofmembers I3I, which, in the particular form illustrated, are of angularcross section such as may be provided by angle irons, are positioned indifferent planes and converge in a common direction. Preferably for thepurpose of providing a support for a geophysical instrument, in orderthat the masses of material may be uniformly distributed with respect tothe instrument, these members are positioned in equilateralrelationship. to each other about a common axis generally like-extendingwith said members.

' At the ends thereof toward which the members converge they may befastened as by welding to V a block I32 of sufiicient size rigidly toconnect thereto.

connected by angle braces I34 which may be all said members I3I at saidend when so welded The opposite ends of said members are Welded'or'otherwise fastened to the ends of the angle members I3I. 'I'he bracesI34 are of-such size and of such section that they provide a stiff ingby the frame when utilized in connection. with suitable struts, ashereafter is described, an edge 7 V and surfaces of the member in suchrelation to said movement that'iess'resistance is presented to the flowof the water and less disturbance and vibration is caused than if theflanges of-the angles were positioned outwardly from the axis Moreover,any movement of the of the device. Water in the upward-or downwarddirection due. to wave action is opposed with less resistance by theangle members when these members are positioned as illustrated in'Figure 6 than if these members were arranged with the flanges"outwardly. J

Welded to or otherwise rigidly fastened to said members I3I are collarsI36 which may be'formed similarly to the collars 56, as shown inFigure 1. The collars I36 may be provided'with' funnels I38 for the samepurpose and functioning like the funnels 51 of Figure l. Spaced alongthe angle members I3I from said collars I36 and rigidly fastened to saidangle members I3I are forked members or clevises I40 similar to theclevises 60 of Figure 1. The collars I36 are positioned with the axes ofthe opening thereof generally like-extending with, the angle member I3Ito which it is attached. Similarly the forks or clevises I40 arearranged so that theaxial di mension thereof is generally like-extendingwith the member I3I to which it is attached and is substantially in linewith the axis of the collar I36 upon the same member I3I. Thus,similarly to the constructionshown and described in"- connection withFigure 1, struts such as the pipes may be inserted in and through saidcollars I35 and'said clevises I'40. Preferably the collars and clevisesare so formed with respect to the "struts that. said struts when notdeformed may be slidably moved therethrough in the axial di- :rection,as described inconne'c'tion'with Figural;

In connection with the frame ma spider I42 1 similar to the spider I Iis provided,- which has arms I2 extending from a: central hub'IO'andjis' provided with the clamping pieces *80, wing nuts:

86 and other partsjas described in connection with Figure l.

The spider I42, as in the con struction of Figure 1, provides arigid-frame with the arms I2 extending outwardly from the hub I0 andspaced around the axis of said hub I0, preferably in equiangularrelationship toeach other so that the clamping pieces 00, formingtogether with the portions 14 of the arms 12 an opening for engagementof the strut or pipe, may

be brought substantially into alignment with the axes of the collars I36and of the clevices I40.

It thus will be possible to insert the pipes 50 in position in thecollars'and clevises-and to clamp the upper ends of the pipes to thespider 142 in the manner described in connection with Figure 1. V

In the particular embodiments illustrated in Figure 6 through the hub I0extends the shank I44 of the jackscrew I46. Said hubm'ay' have a I holeaxially therethroughto' which the shank i4 is fitted so as to rotatetherein. Between the threaded portion of the jackscrew and said hub thejackscrew is provided with a collared portion Hi8. Also adjacent theupper face of the hub IS the shank I44 of the jackscrew may be providedwith a collar I49 fastened to the shank I44 as by a pin Hit. The collarsI48 and I 39 serve to retain the jackscrew in operating relation to thespider I42. At the upper end of the shank IN is formed a head upon whichmay be applied a wrench for turning said jackscrew in the opening in thehub 13. The jackscrew hi6 engages the block 532, the threads of thejackscrew fitting into threads formed in said block !32. The threads inthe block E32 are cut with the axis thereof coinciding substantiallywith the axis above referred to about which, preferably symmetrically,the angle members I3I are positioned. Thus, by turning the jackscrew I46motion of the frame 38 with respect to the spider I 32 may be effected.

In utilizing the devices for a support of a geophysical instrument thespider II or I42 may be suitably temporarily supported as by passing abar horizontally underneath two of the arms l2 and supporting said bar,for example, upon the float referred to above and described in saidprior application, Serial No. 713,852. Thus the whole weight of theframe 55 or I30 may be temporarily supported by the jackscrew 96 or Hi5while the pipes 59 are slidably moved endwise through the openingsformed by the portions 14 and of the spider II or I42 and through theclevises 6B or I46 and the collars 55 or I38. As said pipes are securelyfastened in the earth bottom underneath the water and are clamped by theclamps 8B of the spider II or I42 rigidly in relation to each other attheir upper ends, the frame 55 or I30 may be moved downward so as tocause the collars I35 to draw the pipes 5B in- Wardly toward the axisand to deform said pipes into strain and shock resisting form or shapeso that in cooperation with the rigid frame 55 or I30 and the rigidspider H or I42 a rigid tripod construction is obtained which may besecurely and fixedly positioned or fastened in the earth underlying thewater and may withstand to a considerable degree shock or forces causedby or concomitant with the motion of the water in which the tripod ispositioned.

The invention and that feature thereof according to which the struts orsimilar elongated members are deformed laterally of their length andheld in the laterally deformed shape in order to increase the stiffnessof said struts or elongated members, is not limited to its applicationin the form of a tripod but may be utilized in a structure comprising anelongated member and the means for holding it in said deformed positionor shape, wherever and for whatever purposes such a structure may beused.

While in the above description and in the drawing the support of ourinvention has been described and shown as utilized in water coveredareas for the purposes of making geophysical measurements, the inventionis not limited to such use and said support may find utility whenerected on land. For example, such a support may be utilized on groundwhich is soft or which is sandy, as on beaches or in sand pits or insimilar ground where a solid and secure fixing of the feet of the legsof an ordinary tripod or similar structure may not be possible. In boggyor swampy land not actually covered by water of sufficient depth to beaffected by the wind or by current, the support may find equal utilityas under the conditions described in the above specification. In somecases also the particular structure of the invention may have advantagewhen usedon relatively solid ground.

All such variations of embodiment and use of, the structure, and otherswhich will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are within the scopeof the invention.

Having thus described our invention we claim:

1. A support comprising a plurality of pipes inclined to and convergingtoward each other with at least one of said pipes in a different planefrom that of two other pipes, a rigid spider engaging said pipes andprovided with collars respectively loosely fitting to each of saidpipes, a second rigid spider rigidly connected to but spaced from saidfirst spider in the general direction of the convergence of the pip-es,said second spider being provided with means for slidably contactingsaid pipes, and means for moving said spiders relative to said pipesalong a line extending in a direction generally longitudinally of thepipes to cause said collars to bind upon the pipes with a force actingin a direction toward the center of the first spider and to cause saidsecond spider to bind upon the pipes with a force acting away from thecenter of said second spider.

2. A support comprising a plurality of pipes inclined to and convergingtoward each other with at least one of said pipes in a different planefrom that of two other pipes, a rigid frame engaging said pipes andhaving portions providing collars respectively loosely fitting to eachof said pipes and having at points respectively spaced from said collarsin the general direction of the convergence of the pipes means forslidably contacting said pipes, a rigid spider provided with means forrigidly fastening thereto said pip-es at points respectively on saidpipes removed from said frame, and means connecting between said spiderand said frame for moving said frame in a direction generallylongitudinally of the pipes to cause said collars to bind upon the pipeswith a force acting in a direction toward the center of the frame and tocause said slidable means to bear upon the pipes with a force actingaway from the center of the frame.

3. A support comprising a strut, rigid means engaging said strut andformed to hold said strut in predetermined relation thereto, said rigidmeans also being formed so that said strut may be rotated with respectthereto upon an axis likeextending with the length of the strut, andscrew means at one end of said strut arranged upon said axis and of aform capable of being screwed into the earth to hold said end of thestrut in fixed relation to the earth.

4. A support comprising a plurality of struts having their lengthsgenerally like-extending, rigid means engaging said struts to hold saidstruts in spaced relation transversely of their length, said rigid meansbeing formed so that each of said struts may be rotated with respectthereto upon an axis like-extending with its length, and screw means atone end of said struts arranged upon said axis and of a form capable ofbeing screwed into the earth to hold said end of the strut in fixedrelation to the earth.

5. A device for bracing the legs of a tripod construction comprising aframe having a plurality of converging rigid elongated members, andmeans connecting said members and rigidly holding said members in theirrespective positions in relation to each other, said members each beingprovided with a part arranged to engage a leg and to resist spreading ofthe legs and withla part arranged to engage said leg to resist approachof thelegs toward each other, for applying a stabilizing force to saidlegs.

6. A tripod construction according to claim in which th'emembers are ofangular section and are, positionedwith the bend of the angle.o'utwardly of said frame.

I of converging rigid elongated'members, and means '7. A device forbracing the legs of a tripod'construction comprising a frame having aplurality connectingsaid members and rigidly holding said members intheir respective positions inrelation to each other, said members eachbeing provided with means constructed to'holda leg engaged thereby withthe length of the leg substantially like-extending with the length ofsaidmember,

, i said means of engagement being so formed with bers, means connectingsaid members and rigidly respect to said leg that said leg uponassemblywith said device may be moved endwise ofitself in re.-,

laticn to said member, said means of engagement for each leg having apart arranged to resist spreading of the legs'and a part arranged toresist approach of the legs towardeach other for applying a stabilizingforce to said legs.-

8L A device for bracing the legs of a tripodconstruction'comprisinga'frame having aplurality of converging rigidelongated members, some of said members being positioned with thelengths thereof in different planes from others of said me mholding saidmembers in their respective. positions in relation to each other;said'members each being provided with means constructed to hold a legengaged thereby withthe' length 'of the leg substantially like-extendingwith, the length of said member, said means of engagement being soformed with respect to said leg that said leg upon assembly with saiddevice may be moved endwise of itself in relation to said member, means-constructed and arranged so that it may be rigidly connected to eachleg adjacent similarly positioned points on the lengths thereof, andmeans for moving said frame'in relation to said rigi connecting meansselectively in the general directions of convergence and divergence ofthe members, said means of engagement for each leg having a partarranged to resist spreading of said legs and a part spaced therefromalongsaid elongated'member to resist approach of said legs toward eachother, whereby a'stabilizing force is 7 applied to said legs.

9. A support'comprising a plurality of struts, a frame providing apluralityof spaced rigid members rigidly connected together inthe'frame, at

leastoone of said rigid members engaging each of said struts so as toposition saidstruts with their lengths extending generally inthe'direction' of the spacing of said rigid members but with surnectingsaid struts at adjacently positioned portions thereof spaced therealongfrom said frame,

7 and means for moving said frame relative to said struts in saiddirection of the spacing of the rigid members to cause said members tobear upon the respective inclined surfaces of said struts and to bindsaid struts to said frame to form a rigid support.

1O. A support comprising at'least threestruts of resilient material,means for positioning said struts in positions inclined to .each otherand 1 converging toward each other "in the same direction, at leastoneof said struts being positioned in a different plane from that commonto'two other struts, said means including a rigid member contacting eachof said struts at a pluralityof points spaced along saidstrut and onopposite side's thereof and constructed at each strut so that the strutwhen undefiectedmay be moved lengthwise of itself while maintaining saidstrut in its inclined position with respect tothe other struts, a secondrigid member engaging each of said struts at a place spaced therealongfrom, the points of contact of said first rigid member, said secondrigid memberbeing constructed removably to bind'said struts atsaidplaces of its engage-' ment therewith to hold said struts rigidlyagainst,

movement with respect to each other, and means connecting between saidtwo rigid members 'for moving said first member with respect to thesecond member in the general direction of the spacing of said membersto. cause said first memher by virtue of the inclination of 'said'strutsto bear upon said struts at the points of contact therewith of saidfirst member to stress said struts transversely of their lengths into adeflected form support.

11. A tripodlaccording'to claim 10 in which-I said second rigid memberis provided with clamps constructed for easy removal from clampingcontact with the struts to permit the struts to be slidably passedthrough the openings in the frame.

12. A support comprising a plurality of struts of resilient material,said struts having their lengths extending in the same general directionacting with said rigid members to form a rigid 7 and beingin spacedrelation to each Othertransversely of said lengths, rigid means engagingsaid struts near one end of each strut for connecting together saidstruts, and adjustable. means having two points of contact with each ofsaid struts, said adjustable means being so constructed and arranged asto provide for bowingjsaid struts when moved in one direction, therebyforming a stable support. 7 V r 1 13. A support comprising a pluralityof struts-of V resilient material, said struts having their lengthsextending in the same general direction and being' I in spaced relationto each other transversely of said lengths, and means engaging each ofsaid struts at a plurality of spaced pointson each strut, said meansbeing constructed and arranged for rigidly connecting said strutstogether'at adjacently positioned portions of the different struts andalso so as to resist spreading of the struts at places which aresimilarly positioned on the different struts and to resistapproach ofthe struts at other places which are similarly positioned on 7 saidstruts spaced from said first mentioned places so as to hold said strutsbowed in their lengths to provide a stable support.

14. A support comprising a plurality of struts of resilient material,said struts having their lengths extending, in the same generaldirection and being in spaced relation to each other transversely ofsaid lengths, means engaging each of saidstruts at adjacently positionedportions of the different struts to rigidly connectsaid struts together,and rigid means adjustably movable longitudinally'oi the struts withrespect to said rigid connecting means and so contacting each of saidstruts at anlurality of spaced places thereon as to resist spreading ofthe struts at some of said places and to resist approach of the strutsat others of said places, whereby said struts become bowed in theirlengths to form with said rigid connecting means a stable support.

15. A support comprising a plurality of struts of resilient material, arigid member engaging each of said struts so as to position said strutswith their lengths extending in the same general direction but so thatsurfaces on different struts are inclined with respect to each other,said rigid member being formed to contact said inclined surfaces at aplurality of places on each strut spaced therealong, some of said spacedplaces on each strut being at the opposite side of the strut from othersof said places, means engaging said struts at adjacently positionedportions of the different struts and rigidly connecting said strutstogether, and means for moving said rigid member and said rigidconnecting means relative to each other along a line extending in saidgeneral direction to cause said rigid member bearing on said inclinedsurfaces to deflect and to hold said struts to a bowed form.

16. A support comprising a strut of resilient material, rigid meansengaging said strut at two places spaced along said strut and contactingsaid strut on opposite sides thereof, rigid means rigidly connected tosaid strut at a third place spaced along said strut from said firstmentioned places of engagement, and means for moving said two rigidmeans relative to each other on a line at an angle to the length of saidstrut and constructed and arranged with respect to said two rigid meansto hold said two means in said alignment so as to deflect said struttransversely of its length into a bowed form.

17. A device for bracing the legs of a tripod construction comprising arigid member constructed with parts for engaging each leg of the tripodat least at two places and so as to resist spreading of the legs at oneof said places and to resist approach of the legs toward each other atthe other place, a second rigid member constructed so that it may berigidly connected to each leg to hold the legs rigidly with respect toeach other, and means for moving said rigid members relative to eachother longitudinally of the legs, the parts which are for engagement ofthe legs respectively at one of said places being spaced transversely ofthe legs a greater distance than the spacing of the parts which are forengagement of the legs respectively at at least one other place thereon,whereby the parts for engaging the legs at the shorter spacing may actas a fulcrum for bowing the legs.

18. A support for a geophysical instrument comprising a plurality ofstruts each having one end thereof fixed with respect to the earthssurface and extending upwardly from said end, said struts being spacedin relation to each other transversely of said lengths and being sopositioned that each strut has a surface thereof inclined lengthwise ofthe strut with respect to at least one other strut, rigid means rigidlyconnected to each strut at a point spaced therealong from its fixed end,and rigid means adjustably movable lengthwise of the struts and engagingeach of said struts upon the respective surfaces thereof which areinclined to each other in the different struts to cause said struts tobecome bowed so as to form with said rigid connecting means and saidrigid movable means a stable

